[Clinical pathways in endocrinology and diabetology].

Endocrinology and diabetology are disciplines with an interdisciplinary approach. Patients with diabetes or endocrine disorders are diagnosed and treated by multiple disciplines both in an outpatient or in-hospital setting. Additional diabetes-specific professions also participate in the care of diabetic patients. The development of clinical pathways and case-management in institutionalized "Diabetes Centers" and "Endocrinology Centers" as platforms of cooperation is one way to improve patient care and to pool resources. In such centers an interdisciplinary decision support within the diagnostic and therapeutic process is important. E. g., interdisciplinary case conferences expediate and intensify the necessary flow of information. This guarantees the implementation of a rational and concerted treatment according to guidelines and finally optimize the clinical pathways in a continuous process improvement.